US381797A - Portable caisson - Google Patents

Description

- (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' H. P. KIRKHAM.

j l PORTABLE OAISSON.

-8 1,797. PatentedApr.24, 1888.

w WITNESSES: IIVVE/VT'OR.

ATTORNEY (No Model.) 2 Sheets Sheet 2.

H. P. KIRKHAM.

PORTABLE GAISSON.

ATTORNEY.

- Y I UNITED STATES PATENT Oriana.

HENRY P. KIRKHAM, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PORTABLE CAISSON.

EBPECIFICATION forming part 01 Letters Patent No. 381,7 97, dated April 24, 1888.

' Application-filed March 25,1887. Serial No. 232,369. (No modeLl To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY P. KIRKHAM, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Portable Oaissons, of

' which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

.This invention is in the nature of an improvementin portable caissons, andthe invention consists of a portable caisson constructed in the manner hereinafter shown, described,

and claimed.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings, Figure 1 represents the caisson submerged as in use; Fig. 2, aside view of caisson,partly in section; Fig.3, a vertical section taken in the line or on, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a cross-section in the line 3 3 Fig. 2; and Fig. 5, a plan or top view of caisson.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

The chiefpurpose of this invention is to enable the crew of a ship to make minor underwater repairs, and to avoid the delay and expense incident to putting the vessel on the dock for that purpose, besides permitting repairs of this character to be made during the safety without material delay. Among these minor repairs may be mentioned the loss of a propeller-blade, which is so common an accident that ships propelled by such means invariably carry duplicate blades on board to replace the broken ones; but this replacing necessitates docking the ship, so that the duplicate blades are really not available until the vessel has reached port after a lengthened voyage, possibly made dangerous by the loss sustained. There aremany other minor repairssuch as the starting of a plate in iron ships, &c.,to repair which my invention will befound useful; but since the drawings show its application to the repair of a propeller-blade, I will confine my description of its application to that purpose.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the caisson, which may be of any convenient size and made of any suitable material consistent with the purpose for which it is designed. The

form of this caisson is shown in the viewsv'oyage and permit the vessel to proceed with Figs. Land 5. It is divided into three compartments, B, G, and D. The middle com partment,0,is convex on one side, as at a, and 5 concave on the other, as at b, and this middle compartment is separated from the compartments on either side of'it by water-tight partitions e and f. These partitions extend the entire length of the compartments, as is seen 63 in Fig. 2; but the compartment 0, as is also shown in that figure, is of less depth than the side compartments, B and D, these side compartments extending somewhat below the mid dlecompartment,and thereby forming a space, 65 E, between each of the lower projections, and h, of the side compartments, which is unoccupied, excepting when the caisson is in use, as hereinafter mentioned.

The caisson is on all of its sides tightly 7o closed and rendered water-proof, excepting at its top-side, which may or may notbe closed by a cover or other temporary means. In the convex side b or concave side a of the middle compartment, or in both sides, if desired, are 7 5 inserted windows k, and in the concave side a window, Z, the last-named window being near the bottom of the compartment, or in such a position as will enable a man, when kneeling or sitting within the compartment, to see out of it. Also, to the concave side I) and below the window Z are fixed flexible tubular sections F, terminating at their outer ends in mittens or gloves m, perforations being made through the caisson corresponding to the openings in these 8 tubular sections, the perforations opening into said sections. If desired, the upper ends or tops of the side compartments, B and D, may be closed by plates n, and these plates having man-holes p to permit access within said com- 0 partments, the man-holes being provided with suitable covers in the ordinary way. The cen ter compartment, O,-may have fitted to it a cover, G, hinged thereto. At or near the'bottom of the prolongations g and h of the side compartments, B and D,.arefitted Valves 8, operated by valve'stems p, "which extend through the compartments and terminate in hand-wheels 1). Also, in the compartments B and D may be inserted pipes 20, terminating :00 at their upper ends in a yoke-pipe, y. The caisson may be provided with suitable eyebolts, 0, to which guys and hoisting-chains H and J may be attached.

Now, with the foregoing construction my caisson is in this way operated: Should it be desired to replace a broken propeller-blade, the caisson, with suitable tackle, is lowered over the ships quarter, the valves 8 having been previously opened by operating the handwheels '0, the water in this way being permitted to enter into the side compartments, B and D, and assist in sinking the caisson, and also serve as ballast to maintain it in a steady vertical position. The caisson descends with its concave side b forcing the edge of the broken propeller blade until the caisson rests on one of the blades which has been turned to a horizontal position for that purpose, the horizontal blade being received in the space E, asis shown in Fig. 1. Then, by means of suitable guys, the caisson is confined in that position, and the broken blade that is to be replaced is brought within the reach of a man within the caisson, the concave side I) bringing the hub of the propeller-shaft, to which the blades are attached,within easy reach of the operator, since the swell ot' the blade can be received to some extent within the concavity of the side b,\vhile the convex side a affords an increased space in the interior of the caisson for the operator to occupy.

'Ihe caisson now in position, the operator within it kneels or sits down, thrusts his arms into the tubular sections F and his hands into the mittens m, and grasps a hammer, wrench, or other tool that has been lowered to him from above, and proceeds to remove the remains of the broken blade and replace it with the new blade, which has also been lowered to him from above. The repairs being made, the caisson, by tackle, is hoisted up, the ballastwater within the compartments B and D finding exit through the open valves 8, and the caisson is then stowed away and the ship proceeds.

On board ship the space that the caisson would occupy may be utilized by using the caisson for a water-tank or for stowing within it anything desired.

Under some circumstances, as when a vessel has reached port and requires some minor under-water repairs, but is without a caisson, by closing the man-holes p and the cover G and the valves 8, the caisson may be towed to the operator below may have both light and air,

the windows It also admitting light.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1-. A caisson consisting of three water-tight compartments separated by watertight parti' tions, provided with windows, and tubular flexible armsections which terminate in mit' tens or gloves, whereby an operator may make repairs, as and for the purpose described.

2. In a subaqueous caisson, flexible tubular and gloved arm-sections fixed permanently to the caisson, combined with a window located and constructed to permit the operator to guide his arms in said tubular sections, as and for the purpose described.

3. In combination, in a subaqeous caisson, a middle compartment of less length than the compartments on each side of the same, whereby a space. E, without a bottom is formed, which enables the caisson to straddle a projecting object, as and for the purpose described.

4. In combination, a subaqueous ca sson constructed with convex and concave sides, with the means hereinbefore described for operating said caisson, as and for the purpose described.

5. A subaqueous caisson constructed with a concave or recessed side to receive within it such projecting part or parts as need repairs and bring the same within reach of the operator in the caisson, substantially as and for the purpose described.

HENRY P. KIRKHAM In presence of- D. A. CARPENTER, T. G. EARL.

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